I'm sure this is on your radar by now, but get involved with this year's Fountain to the Falls 7 Mile Walk/Run by participating in the Health & Fitness Expo. This expo will kick off at 6 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, and will feature:

- Zumba in the Street by the YMCA from 7:01 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.- Free amenities like health screenings, flu shots and massages- Giveaways- Fitness Class Round II: "Body Vive" taught by the YMCA from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

You can participate by having a booth, adding information into the runner's goodie bags, or simply sending out people to run or cheer by wearing your logo.

Here's how you can get involved. Want more information? Contact Jennifer McLain by email at jmclain@ci.monrovia.ca.us:

These are the three most common topics that come up during business visits of Monrovia's larger employers when they start talking about how the State of California can help - or how it has hindered - their business.

But the State is working on ways to overcome some of these negative stereotypes by working on proactive ways to keep employers in California.

1) Small businesses advocacy, through programs such as the loan guarantee program and other incentives.2) A Business Development Team, which looks at how to retain businesses in California.3) International Business Development.4) Identifying and promoting "Innovation Hubs" and Entrepreneurship.5) Infrastructure Development.6) Improve Marketing of Film, Travel and Tourism Committee efforts.

Those will be the two leading priorities of the City of Monrovia's Economic Development efforts in the coming years, said Monrovia City Manager Laurie Lile during her presentation at the Foothill Workforce Investment Board's quarterly meeting.

For Monrovia, the community and City Council has concluded during the PlanMonrovia Strategic Planning Process that one of the City's six priorities in the next five years should be Economic Development. Specifically, these actions:

According to Ms. Lile, retention and growth efforts have moved forward in large part through the Business Visits that have targeted Old Town Businesses and top employers. And as far as building relationships - this will be critical in helping to identify need by our local businesses and finding the appropriate resources to meet these needs.

Among the organizations that the City will focus its efforts on include businesses, brokers and economic development organizations such as the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce, the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, Foothill Workforce Investment Board, and the San Gabriel Valley Partnership, just to name a few.

While redevelopment dollars may have disappeared, the need for attracting businesses, and retaining and growing our existing workforce remains more important than ever.

Are you looking to start a business but are having a tough time with your business plan? Do you own a restaurant but seem to be upsidedown on the budget? Are you in need of financial options? Then the Foothill Workforce Investment Board is here to help.

The Small Business Development Center is one of the best kept secrets in the San Gabriel Valley. On Mondays and Tuesdays, business owners can head into the 1207 E. Green Street Center in Pasadena for one-on-one FREE consulting. All you need to do is make an appointment before you go.

Students at Azusa Pacific University are teaming up with the Santa Anita Family Services on a project to better assist businesses in Los Angeles County. These students are trying to assess the barriers that exist in making referrals for substance abuse treatment in the workplace in order to better serve the community.